LINCOLN, NEB. - A year ago, Nebraska was 1-2, having just picked up their first win under Matt Rhule, knocking off Northern Illinois. Now, the Huskers are ranked the and 3-0 for the first time since 2016, with a ranked vs. ranked showdown on Friday night.

#22 Nebraska is set to welcome #24 Illinois to Lincoln for the first ranked vs. ranked matchup at Memorial Stadium since the UCLA game in 2013. Head Coach Matt Rhule recapped non-conference play and the Big Ten showdown.

“All of these games matter, all these games are important,” Rhule said. “It’s our first league game… We didn’t approach the preseason like the preseason, but to me it’s just ‘Hey, now we’re entering Big Ten play’ so our approach doesn’t change, but the gravity of the situation is just a little different."

In Nebraska’s 34-3 win over Northern Iowa, the Blackshirts' dominating start to the season continued, allowing just a field goal in the victory. They’ve allowed just 20 points in their first three contests, the lowest number since 2005. However, the defense allowed 180 yards after contact - 100 more than their season average. Rhule said that number upset the group, but says that’s good, as it means they have a standard they hold themselves to, each time they take the field.

“I was very calm and stoic at halftime... I said ‘You’re going to win the game, it’s bothering you guys, and I’m so happy it’s bothering us’,” Rhule said. “We’re not just happy to win, now we’re starting to play to a standard and when we don’t play to a standard, it really bothers us.”

The Illini enter at 3-0, ranked 24th in the nation, having already picked off one Top 25 team, beating then # 19 Kansas in week two. What was thought of by many as a friendly schedule to the year, Rhule says isn’t so.

“It’s going to be an absolute battle. They’re a really really good team,” Rhule said. “It’s why in preseason when people say the schedule is easy, is it? Looking at the power rankings now, we have one of the hardest remaining schedules in the Big Ten moving forward. All that preseason fluff is not real.”

Rhule noted right guard Micah Mazccua will miss his second straight game as he's "working through a few things" - he remains practicing and with the team. Junior Henry Lutovsky will start in his place. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Jimari Butler did not play against Northern Iowa, but is probable for Friday against Illinois. 

Kick off between #22 Nebraska and #24 Illinois is set for 7:00 p.m. CT on FOX.